Apparatus for folding the end closure of a package



March 27, 1962 G. GlRAUDl 3,026,663

APPARATUS FOR FOLDING THE END CLOSURE OF A PACKAGE Filed March 29, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet g United States Pater filiee 3,026,515 Patented Mar. 27, 1962 3,026,663 APPARATUS FOR FOLDING THE END CLOSURE OF A PACKAGE Giorgio Giraudi, Neuhausen am Rheint'all, Switzerland,

assignor to Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft, Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Switzerland Filed Mar. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 99,094 Claims priority, application Switzerland Apr. 1, 1960 2 Claims. (Cl. 53-379) The invention concerns apparatus for folding the end closures of packages, wherein the package has at one end face, an end closure comprising a closure strip projecting perpendicularly from such end face and connecting with laterally protruding closure flaps, such as are provided in a so-called block-bottom bag.

Folding of the end closures has hitherto been carried out on packaging machines by means of individual folding elements, such as folding arms and the like which come into action one after another, the packages being conveyed to individual packaging stations by conveyor devices.

Such folding installations therefore involve a considerable expense and, in addition, a large amount of space is taken up by the individual folding elements and by the conveyor devices for conveying the packages to such elements.

An object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement wherein these disadvantages are obviated, the apparatus according to the invention being characterised in that it comprises a rotatable roller around the curved surface of which are arranged folding elements comprising a presser for folding down the end closure, two sheet metal skirts which serve to move the closure flaps to longitudinal positions projecting perpendicularly from the package end and then fold them inwardly, and a cylindrical segment for pressing the closure flaps against the end of the package.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the individual folding operations, which are known in themselves, and a constructional example of an apparatus according to the invention for folding the end closure of a package. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a package, showing one end thereof and the end closure in its position prior to the final folding operations;

FIG. 2 shows the same package as FIG. 1 but after a first end closure folding operation;

FIG. 3 shows the same package as FIG. 1 after the second folding operation;

FIG. 4 shows the same package as FIG. 1 after completion of the folding operations;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the folding apparatus of the invention in the first operative position;

FIG. 6 shows the folding apparatus of FIG. 5 during the process of folding in the side flaps;

FIG. 7 shows the folding apparatus of FIG. 5 before it begins to press down the inwardly folded side flaps.

The function of the apparatus is to complete the folding of an end closure at one end of a closed package such as is illustrated in FIG. 1. The package, which is indicated by reference numeral -'1, has a longitudinal seam 2 and some preliminary folding has already been carried out on the end closure so that it comprises two triangular flaps 3, 4 which protrude laterally from the package and a closure strip 5 consisting of two thicknesses of the package material sealed together, such strip projecting perpendicularly from the adjacent end of the package and in the longitudinal direction of the package. If the package is made of a thermoplastic material or is provided with a thermoplastic covering, the longitudinal seam 2 the position of FIG. 1, so that it lies in contact with end surface 6 of the package as shown in FIG. 2. The two lateral closure flaps 3, 4 are now moved to a longitudinally projecting position perpendicular to the end surface 6 (see FIG. 3), and then folded inwardly towards one another (see FIG. 4), so that they lie in contact with the end surface 6. In this position, the closure flaps 3, 4 are then pressed against the end surface 6 and, if desired, they are sealed thereto by heating.

The apparatus for carrying out the individual folding operations comprises a roller 7 (FIGS. 5, 6 and 7) which is driven either continuously or intermittently as desired, and which comprises a small diameter roller which is flanged at its ends and has individual folding elements arranged on its outer curved surface. Conveyor means (which are known and have therefore not been illustrated in the drawings) convey the package to be folded so that the end closure thereof is presented to the curved surface of the roller 7 before the first of the folding elements, which is in the form of a T-shaped presser 8, comes into operation. The roller 7 rotates or is then rotated in the direction of the arrow, and the first folding element 8 engages against and folds the closure strip 5 against the end surface 6 of the package (FIGS. 2 and 5). In addition, folding elements in the form of two sheet metal folding skirts 9 are provided on the roller 7. The inner edges 9a of these skirts 9 stand clear of the general surface of the roller end, considered against the sense of rotation of the roller 7, they gradually converge, meeting at a point 95. As the roller 7 rotates, the edges 9a of the skirts 9 engage with the undersurfaces of the two triangular closure flaps 3 and 4 and first bring them into their longitudinally projecting positions (FIGS. 3 and 6) and then fold them inwardly onto the end surface 6 of the package (FIGS. 4 and 7).

As the roller 7 continues to rotate, a further folding element in the form of a cylindrical surface segment 10 comes into operation by engaging the package to press down the inwardly folded closure flaps 3, 4. Considered in the sense opposite to the sense of rotation of the roller 7, the radius of the cylindrical segment 10 increases slightly, so that the segment presses with increasing pressure against the end surface of the package as rotation continues.

The cylindrical segment 10 may, for example, be heated electrically. If the package is made of thermoplastic material or is provided with a thermoplastic covering, heat from the segment 10 may be used to seal the closure flaps 3, 4 firmly to the end surface 6.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for folding the end closure of a package of which the end closure comprises a closure strip projecting perpendicularly from one end of the package and connecting with laterally protruding closure flaps, characterised in that it comprises a rotatable roller around the curved surface of which are arranged folding elements comprising a pressure for folding down the end closure, two sheet metal skirts which serve to move the closure flaps to longitudinal positions projecting perpendicularly from the package end and then fold them inwardly, and a cylindrical segment for pressing the closure flaps against the end of the package.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the cylindrical segment is heated.

No references cited. 

